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Home > Archive > Certified Internet Webmaster - CIW > June 2001 > New Horizons CIW Training
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New Horizons CIW Training
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| overlord 2001-03-16, 8:44 am |
| I hear a lot of people talking about having had training at New Horizons. What are the CIW courses like there? Are the CIW materials any different then the Prosoft books? Has anyone taken training else where? If so where?
overlord007@yahoo.com | |
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| this was discussed in a thread a while back New Horizons last I checked issues ProSoft books and teaches from them... check this thread
http://www.examnotes.net/forums/sho...ight=flynmonkie
I found a lot of inconsistencies in the courseware but that might have changed! what I think it is good for is basic info and a general overview, but watch those inconsistencies they will throw you! | |
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| What kind of inconsistencies are we talking about? | |
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| What my classmates and I found that on one page it would refer to speed, then yet another page would have a different speed altogether  - different situations like that. ( I used to have the exact information on it but I have misplaced it) It has been a while since I had been issued that courseware (fall of 2000) so I know they posted updates on their site to correct these issues. Mostly my experience with New Horizons regarding the CIW foundations track is that it was an awful lot of monies ($2125 a class) and In 5 days they covered the Internet. 
New Horizons sold this also as a I-Net+ Prep course and my teacher not only was not certified to teach she was not able to answer my questions in relation to the differences between exams. When I went to take the CIW foundations exams I found the questions and answers to be phrased exactly from the book. This is before I obtained the information that if I took the I-Net. I would obtain the CIW foundations cert. (2 certifications in one) I took this class for the I-Net+ I found the Comptia exam to be more generic and tested on your Knowledge, what they wanted you to know but not how they wanted you to know it. In other words I felt the pro soft courseware asked questions on the exam the way they wanted you to understand. I hope that explains it a bit more to you. This is just of course IMHO.
I have also had some incredible instructors at New Horizons but it does depend on that. There is sometimes a bad apple. I have heard many people complain about how unorganized New Horizons can be. I myself have experienced both sides of the coin. Good and bad. There is a website of many students it seems that have had problems there. I would rather not post it in this forum but I will send it to you privately, not even sure if it is still there. I never posted it. But it might give you some insight on different possible problems to watch out for and also help you to know if what you are being told is actually what is.
 I had a bad recruiter and she screwed up my classes for several months then she quit leaving New Horizons no background information or paperwork on me at all. I originally started with NT 4.0 MCSE and then when the news came out of the expiration from Microsoft, she pulled me out of those classes and they of course had my money for the NT track. So she convinced me to go the CIW route. I have now been through 3 recruiters and the one I have now seems to be great. (The second one quit also).
New Horizons now has me in the Windows 2000 DBA course and Access courses. I am very happy with that. But it has taken a lot to get to this point. The biggest problem I have found is the availability of courses and the capabilities of some of the instructors. And trying to get answers from the instructors after the classes you have to repeat the ENTIRE course again. I hope this helps. I wish that I had someone explain all of this to me before I spent as much as I did. I basically could have purchased a brand new car for the amount that my student loan is. I don't think I expected too much, but that they deliver what they promised. So far it seems to be working and it is all straightened out...but it has taken a year and I have had a difficult time trying to organize my schedule with theirs and trying to take off work...so financially it has hit me below the belt. I took the courses because I want to learn but several of my classmates have gotten refunds, I firmly believe especially with the microsoft stuff that there are very capable teachers there that can teach me...so I am sticking with it.
Good luck! | |
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| My advice is to take the I-Net and forget the CIW you get 2 Certs in one with that.
I studied the I-Net+ Exam Prep $39.99
also the sites at
Measureup.com
Examnotes.net
Brainbuzz.com cramsessions
Cert 21 practice tests
Testmaster tmq.com (be careful there some answers are not correct)
And I never even touched the Prosoft courseware. The first attempt at the CIW I failed by one point and the next attempt was with the I-Net+ and I failed by 2 points. Mostly because I am a terrible test taker and I did not read the questions. With the CIW the questions were phrased if I remember correctly from the Pro soft book...that is how I came up with the fact it was a propiatary exam.
I have not had the time to go and retake the exam but I am passing everything out there 100% so I wanted to wait until I am finished with my WIn 2K core classes thinking it might just reenforce what I already know. | |
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| Let me give you the perspective of New Horizons Training from a former instructors point of view.
First off there are corporate owned New Ho's and Franchised New Ho's. When I was training at the NEw Ho ( about a year ago) I was their lead web guy, and head of that department. The courseware I had was the standard CIW courseware. They brand it as NHIPP, but its the same stuff. Noow the CIW courseware has lots of inconsistancies. It's up to the trainers to point out the issues, and have them update and reprint. WHich they usually take care of, or ship out a new eratta sheet, however at the NEw Ho that info rarely filters froim the management level down to the Instructors( except my instrucotrs : > ) )
The New Ho notoriously under preps their instructors, for instance an instructor who has fair copmpetancy with HTML is expected to teach Foundations with a weeks prep time.
UnderPrepared and UnderPaid instructors and typically inferior training in the web areas are what I have experienced. It is different for their MCSE and Novell instructors, dont get me wrong, I took my MCSE and MCSD from a New Ho and had great teachers, it's all the peripheral fields that matter.
The New Ho's I have had experience dont givee their web departments the support they need. And that trancends onto you. There are some New Ho's that are great, there are some that just suck ###. I personally left mine, and took my department with me to a new facility. Our students came also, and got the training they deserve.
My only advice, ask to speak with the instructors, If they seem happy when you interview them, then take the classes, they'll treat you well, If not, find another facility...sub standard training is not worth your time.
Good Luck!!! | |
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| Yeah I think that is a great idea!!
interview the instructor! Thinking back this is what I should have done!
I have experienced as a student exactly what you are talking about....what a mess! | |
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| I just wanted to say that Billiekai Boughton, and Camille Lopez at the New Ho San Diego are good instructors.
: > ) | |
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| I just passed i-net+ today, are you telling me I can submit that score and receive another cert? I thought you needed 2 test to receive CIW????? | |
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| For the Inet Cert all you have to do is go to CIWCERTIFIED.COM, and there is a link where you register your score, and sign a waiver, and that is it! You see back in like 99 comptia used the CIW foundations courseware for their Inet+ exam. The 2 exams are near alike, hopwever the Inet+ has more of a net focus and those nebulous CompTIA questions.
I say you go get that cert. Free paper! | |
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| How about 2 cents from a current NH instructor.
Yes we are using official Prosoft books. Yes they can contain some mistakes. Prosoft sends out instructor guides with corrections.
As for how NH handled things a year ago. CIW was a baby then and no one was up on it. NH does support its instructors in the CIW program very well. New CIW instructors are usually required to teach several application class that support CIW before going into foundations. The CIW instructors that I work with
ALL have real life experience and are top notch instructors.
I do agree that you should talk to an Instructor or two. Get a feel for who you will spending time with.
With a World Wide training center (which is what NH is) you will always have some people who are not satisfied. But as I see people coming into NH from other training centers each week I am confident NH is the safest bet for training.
Just my bias opinion... | |
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| I am Glad to see that we agree on many of the same points. Mind you I never condemmed the whole New Horizons operation, just the New Horizons that operate in my general area. I am glad to know that your New Horizons has a key staff and an administration that supports your program. Point being there are good facilities and bad facilities out of all the Key training centers, New horizons, Executrain, and Vortex Data Systems. When recommending a facility to a perspective student we have to look beyond our instruction to the full customer service plan that is offered to students. With exception to corporate owned New Horizons, and your facility I personally still find at least the New Horizons in my area to be rough around the edges. In fact I think there is only one facility in my area that does their training program and the students justice, and that is microskills.
Back to the real matter at hand however, Interviewing the instructors at a facility will give anyone a view of what their learning environment will be like.
Happy Trails | |
| hopewell 2001-06-10, 10:19 am |
| I am an ex-New Horizon who wishes to never to see their name again. I was in their CIW Webmaster's track & the 6 month club web design programs. My experience w/ them has been far below satisfactory.
1. I unfortunately did not have rapport w/ my exec account. I got tired of having to nearly beg him on several occasions to get me a schedule, as they cancelled & changed so much.
2. Ironically, as far as instructor goes, I really liked every one of them. The only negative thing about New Horizon's instruting method is the instructors all follow the books in class sessions: nothing new or extra. So the actual learning process (especially CIW courses) for me has been self-practice. |
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